The Court passed the order on the proceedings it had initiated suo motu, based on some news reports regarding the helicopter services that were supposedly being offered by the firm.
The matter was first taken up on Friday when the government pleader and the counsel for the Devaswom Board informed it that they were neither aware of any such facilities nor had granted any permissions to the concerned firm.
The Court had then posted the case for consideration on Saturday.
At the special sitting convened on Saturday, the Court noted that the counsel for the firm was unable explain the circumstances in which a misleading advertisement was released by it regarding ‘Sabarimala Ayyappa Darshan Helicopter Service Package’, which is inclusive of darshan, dolly service, taxi service from Nilakkal to Pamba, etc.
He further submitted that the firm will no longer be proceeding with the service.
While the Court recorded this undertaking, it made it clear that it would not absolve the firm from being proceeded against in accordance with law.
The Court directed the Devaswom Board, District Colelctor, and District Police Chief to submit action taken reports on the issue. It also directed the Deputy Solicitor General of India to get necessary instructions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, on the operation of helicopter services in an area which is notified as a Special Security Zone.
Source: Barandbench
